State of New Jersey Archives: on Civil Rights

Ray Lesniak:
Evolved from supporter of LGBT rights to an advocate

I was always a supporter of LGBT rights, but I evolved to become more than a supporter. I became an advocate. As I explained in the book I co-authored with Senator Weinberg, "What's Love Got To Do With It. The Case For Same Sex Marriage", I saw the hurt
that disowning your authentic self can do to a human being. And I saw the joy and the love when someone is free to embrace who they are. I came to believe that the recognition of same sex marriage would be uplifting for our entire society.

When Senator Weinberg and I insisted on a vote at the end on the legislative session under Governor Corzine, we were hoping for a miracle. A miracle that never came. We didn't have enough Senators, Democrats or Republicans.
We have not achieved marriage equality, but we're not going away. We won't rest until gay and lesbian couples have marriage equality in New Jersey.

On the day the Supreme Court finally declared Love = Love.... and made gay marriage legal across the country, we hung the rainbow flag outside City Hall.

But our commitment to LGBT rights is not just about raising flags and changing our profile
pictures.... We believe in fighting for LGBT rights. Which is why the Human Rights Campaign has awarded Jersey City a "100-percent rating" two years in a row, making us the most LGBT friendly city in the state.

Tom MacArthur:
Marriage between man and woman, but leave it to states

While all people should be treated equally under the law, Tom believes marriage is between one man and one woman.
Moreover, Tom believes that decisions on how to govern marriage belong with individual states and their voters, not activist courts or the federal government.

Barbara Buono:
Daughter is gay; supports same-sex marriage

Christie and Buono clashed on marriage equality. Asked how he would react if any of his children told him they were gay, Christie maintained his opposition to legalizing same-sex marriage.

"If my children came to me and said they were gay I would grab them and hug them and tell them I love them," Christie said. "I would also tell them that your dad believes that marriage is between one man and one woman."

Buono, whose daughter is gay,
said the governor's position on marriage equality makes him like Sarah Palin and the GOP caucus in Iowa.

Source: Newark Star-Ledger on 2013 N.J. Governor debates
Oct 16, 2013

Chris Christie:
If my kids were gay, I'd give them a hug; but no marriage

Christie and Buono clashed on marriage equality. Asked how he would react if any of his children told him they were gay, Christie maintained his opposition to legalizing same-sex marriage.

"If my children came to me and said they were gay I would grab them and hug them and tell them I love them," Christie said. "I would also tell them that your dad believes that marriage is between one man and one woman."

Source: Newark Star-Ledger on 2013 N.J. Governor debates
Oct 16, 2013

Cory Booker:
Supports gay marriage: We are all equal under the law

The two clashed sharply on just about every issue, including gay marriage and abortion. Booker said he supports same-sex marriage, saying "We are all equal under the law."

Lonegan said "marriage is the greatest institution made by man"
because "it's about the children." Asked whether he believes gay couples should have children, he quipped: "That would be a biological phenomenon." He then added: "I have mixed feelings about that."

Cory Booker:
African-Americans & gays should both be equal under the law

A state Superior Court judge last week ruled New Jersey must allow gay couples to get married. Lonegan said the ruling on same-sex marriage should be made by the state Legislature or people of New Jersey, not a judge.

Booker disagreed and said that as
an African-American, he would "not be standing here right now if judges didn't say everyone in America is equal under the law."

"The ability to marry the person you love is one of the most fundamental liberties in America," he added.

Steve Lonegan:
Same-sex marriage should be decided by voting, not judges

A state Superior Court judge last week ruled New Jersey must allow gay couples to get married. Lonegan said the ruling on same-sex marriage should be made by the state Legislature or people of New Jersey, not a judge.

Booker disagreed and said that as
an African-American, he would "not be standing here right now if judges didn't say everyone in America is equal under the law."

"The ability to marry the person you love is one of the most fundamental liberties in America," he added.

Barbara Buono:
Push legislature to legalize gay marriage

The Supreme Court's invalidation of a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act has effects immediately in New Jersey. Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican who supports civil unions but opposes gay marriage, is up for reelection in a blue state this fall.
Opponent Barbara Buono (D) is already trying to put some heat on him over DOMA. In a recent email blast, her gay daughter called Christie "a giant roadblock to New Jersey achieving equality for all." In the wake of the Supreme Court decision,
Buono is pushing the legislature for a vote to override his veto of gay marriage legislation last fall.

"Lawmakers who need [political] cover, they certainly have it now," she told the Post. "Those that need a way to rationalize their vote to
override, they've got it."

But some gay marriage activists say they simply don't have the 15 votes in the legislature to overcome Christie's veto. State Senate President Stephen Sweeney says he is planning a vote but has not scheduled one.

Hours after the Supreme Court's landmark ruling today striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act, Gov. Chris Christie maintained his opposition to same-sex marriage and lambasted the high court. "It's just another example of judicial supremacy
rather than having the government run by the people we actually vote for," he said of the high court's 5-4 vote. "I thought it was a bad decision."

Christie noted that DOMA originated with a Republican Congress & Democratic president. "I thought that
Justice (Anthony) Kennedy's opinion in many respects was incredibly insulting to those people, 340-some members of Congress who voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, and Bill Clinton," he said. "They basically said the only reason to pass that bill
was to demean people."

Christie calls for voters to decide the issue in each state [which pleases liberals]. His opposition to gay marriage could maintain his conservative bone fides while pacifying GOP voters in early primary states.

Menendez said although he supported the Defense of Marriage Act in the House in the 1990s, which restricted the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriage, he now favored it.

Kyrillos, who has voted against
same-sex marriage twice in the state Senate, jumped on Menendez for changing his mind and said he wanted to "motivate civil unions," legislation he voted against in 2006.

Source: Newark Star-Ledger on 2012 N.J. Senate debate
Oct 10, 2012

Joe Kyrillos:
Evolved from opposing civil unions to support over marriage

Menendez said although he supported the Defense of Marriage Act in the House in the 1990s, which restricted the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriage, he now favored it.

Kyrillos, who has voted against
same-sex marriage twice in the state Senate, jumped on Menendez for changing his mind and said he wanted to "motivate civil unions," legislation he voted against in 2006.

Source: Newark Star-Ledger on 2012 N.J. Senate debate
Oct 10, 2012

Dick Zimmer:
Supports Patriot Act as appropriate response

Zimmer said he supports the USA Patriot Act “as an appropriate response to a very serious existential problem to the United States,” adding that the
2002 law helped law enforcement monitor and track the nation’s enemies through the Electronic Age’s newer forms of communications.

Source: Press of Atlantic City on 2008 N.J. Senate Debate
May 23, 2008

Joe Pennacchio:
DOMA instead of same-sex marriage

Q: Should New Jersey recognize marriages between same-sex couples?

A: No.

Q: Do you support a New Jersey constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman?